2nd Ave West, Lower Queen Anne

Queen Anne is really my all-time favorite place to live in Seattle. Known for its old, gigantic mansions and amazing views, most neighborhoods still retain that community spirit. There are many restaurants, shops, recreation areas, parks, schools and local businesses to keep the area self-contained, giving it that much more appeal. 2nd Ave. West stops and starts all the way from the bottom of Queen Anne to the top. You can find huge, gorgeous mansions, beautiful single-family homes and some nicely renovated apartment buildings along this hilly street, though the road itself is a sharp contrast to the houses and natural beauty offered with all the huge trees and colorful gardens. One the the most chopped up, beaten, pot-holed streets in this neighborhood, on-street parking narrow this skinny little street even more than it already was, making driving through less than smooth. With it being a two-way road, you're constantly having to pull over to allow an oncoming car pass. The proximity to downtown, the highways and the terrific parks and schools on Queen Anne are almost enough to make you overlook the broken-down street you live on, though.